Recovering Hope: Science-Based Tools for Long-Term Healing from Depression, Anxiety, and Addiction

Find hope in healing from depression, anxiety, and addiction, and build a healthier, happier lifestyle, with practical strategies from Clay Olsen and Dr. Jacob Hess, leaders in mental health.

What if what we’ve been told about mental health isn’t the whole truth?

For years, we’ve been told that depression, anxiety, and addiction are lifelong conditions―manageable at best, never truly healable. But mounting evidence and thousands of lived experiences suggest otherwise.

In Recovering Hope, Clay Olsen, founder of the addiction recovery organization Fight the New Drug, and Jacob Hess, PhD, challenge the discouraging narrative surrounding mental illness and present a bold, research-backed alternative: that deep, lasting healing is not only possible―it’s already happening.

Regardless of biological predisposition and chemical imbalances, the accessible strategies in this guide target changeable variables in lifestyle and environment, such as sleep, nutrition, movement, and connection, for long-term relief. With reflection prompts, real stories, and an approachable tone and structure, this compassionate mindset shift restores hope for a life free from mental health challenges.

Combining science with practical mental health tools, this book reveals

• why the current mental health model often fails to deliver real relief,
• what cutting-edge research says about the brain’s ability to heal and rewire,
• how small lifestyle changes can lead to powerful emotional transformation, and
• how to foster hope, even in the midst of darkness.

Clay Olsen is a social entrepreneur and leader in mental health advocacy. As CEO and founder of Impact Suite and cofounder of Fight the New Drug, he has helped thousands of individuals find lasting recovery from depression, anxiety, and addiction. He also serves as president of PHASE (Prevention and Healing Against Sexual Exploitation), uniting organizations and community leaders to combat sexual exploitation and trafficking. Jacob Hess, PhD, is a community psychologist, mindfulness teacher, and staff writer at Deseret News. With a doctorate from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Hess has dedicated his career to deeply understanding and thoughtfully challenging conventional narratives around mental health treatment.